Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a new law that bans direct contact between people and lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cougars, according to Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, who sponsored the bill.

The bill came to be known as the "Tiger selfie" bill. But Rosenthal said that was not her only motivation.

"Instead it is an important piece of consumer and animal protection legislation and will ban a practice that should have already been illegal in New York," she said in a press release.

The law is also directed at roadside zoos that charge people for photos with big cats.

Despite any level of training, she said big cats have instincts to kill.

"I guess some young men in New York will have to find another game, because big cat selfies, along with direct contact with big cats, is now prohibited," she said.